Will Oil Prices and Pollution Lead to a Bicycle Renaissance?

Brandon Sun “Small
World” Column, Sunday, July 27 / 08Zack
Gross

With the consumer price for gasoline up at least 25% over the past year
in North America and Europe – and with continuing concern in the
public mind about the environmental cost of our car culture –
many people are embracing the bicycle as the “new” way to
get around town, to shop, visit or go to work and school.

However, in China, where millions of citizens are excited about the
benefits of new-found wealth and industrial development, many are
abandoning the bike, which they’ve ridden for generations, in
favour of cars, trains and buses.

David Cameron, current Leader of the Britain’s Conservative
Party, was an early champion of bicycling, taking a high-profile ride
to the House of Commons every day, and convincing some of his
colleagues to do the same. His first journey to work as leader
three years ago was actually broadcast in its entirety by hovering TV
news helicopters.

Cracks in his green armour emerged later, when it was revealed that a
staff car followed him regularly, carrying his briefcase, lunch and
walking shoes. Investigative reporters also caught him going
through red lights and cycling the wrong way up one-say streets!
Finally, a few days ago, he made the news again, when someone stole his
bike while he was grocery shopping.

Cameron isn’t the only celebrity to take up the bicycle.
Historically, Queen Elizabeth I cycled to her castle to work. The
bike, says BBC News Magazine writer Clive James, was completely covered
up by her crinoline, so that her adoring public thought that she
skimmed along the ground at remarkable speeds using unearthly
powers.

Louis XIV of France used a bike to get from one romantic liaison to
another as quickly as possible (so as not to inconvenience the ladies
involved, he argued).

Napoleon refused to ride a bike to the Battle of Waterloo. He
opted for a fancy but slow coach. The Duke of Wellington, who
defeated him there, showed up early on a lightweight bike and therefore
took the best military position.

In today’s world, Asia has always been the largest market for
two-wheelers. The boom continues in motorcycle and bicycle sales
as consumers face not only economic and environmental concerns, but
also growing traffic snarls and a desire to keep fit.

In 2006, 33 million motorcycles of various sizes were sold in Asia,
while Latin American, North American and European sales each hovered in
the two million range. Says Singapore’s Trade
Minister Lee Yi Shyan, as Asians become middle class by global
standards, they often aspire to owning cars but ultimately choose
expensive motorcycles or bicycles as a cheaper alternative in both
initial cost and in operation and maintenance. Sales of
motorbikes made by Malaysia’s Demak Corporation have risen 40%
over the past three years.

In the U.S., mileage traveled has been reduced significantly since gas
prices began to rise. Comparing March 2007 to March 2008,
Americans drove eleven billion fewer vehicle miles, a drop of
4.3%. This was the sharpest yearly drop in 66 years and the first
time in 30 years that there was a drop in March driving. The good
environmental news is that the U.S. Department of Transportation
therefore estimated that greenhouse gas emissions fell by nine million
metric tons for the first quarter of 2008.

U.S. National Bike to Work Day in May, however, showed that
Americans aren’t quite ready to adopt the bicycle as their means
of transport. In surveys, they say that they have just too
far to go and too much to carry to use a bike. Some fear the
dangers of traffic-choked streets while others won’t let their
kids use bikes due to a fear of crime. An aging and unfit
American population is also less able to get around by bike.

Bicycle use in America is actually at its lowest ebb in 25 years.
Only about 10% of the population uses a bike at least six times per
year. Environmentalists hope that if more people won’t opt
for a bike, maybe they will at least use public transportation more.

A poll recently done by CTV shows that Canadian gasoline consumption is
down. While prices in May went up 8.8% from April, sales
increased by only 2.4%, meaning that litres sold dropped. While
prices generally are up for consumer goods in Canada, from food to
clothing to beverages, no other sector had such a drop in sales as
gasoline did. Many cities are looking for ways to make
independence from car culture more attractive – building bike
paths, sponsoring commuter challenges, and offering deals on public
transit. For instance, Brandon is offering all post-secondary
students free bus rides all of September in an attempt to encourage
ridership year round.

Change on a massive scale is often driven by economics. Fewer
miles traveled by car, plane and other gas-guzzling forms of
transportation will save people money, help save our environment and
possibly make people more fit. At the same time, we must keep in
mind that the closing of automobile plants, the canceling of flights
and other measures are also costing people jobs. It may be
naïve to hope that green industries will be able to hire back the
labour that is currently suffering as our lifestyle literally shifts
gears.

There are still great challenges ahead to make our global society economically, socially and environmentally sustainable.